Prince Harry qualifies as Apache chopper commander

Jul. 5, 2013 - 12:43PM
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Britain's Prince Harry poses in front of an Apache helicopter in a photo released July 5. Prince Harry has this week qualified as an Apache aircraft commander, the culmination of his training over the last three years. (Sgt. B E Pearce / MoD via AP)

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LONDON — Britain’s defense ministry says Prince Harry has qualified to command an Apache attack helicopter — the culmination of his training over the last three years.

Harry, known as Capt. Wales in the army, earlier this year completed a 20-week deployment in Afghanistan as a co-pilot gunner on an Apache and since then has flown missions in the U.K.

His commanding officer, Lt. Col. Tom de la Rue, called the qualification a “tremendous achievement,” saying in a statement Friday that 28-year-old Harry had passed with “flying colors.”

The military said Harry had undergone months of training to prepare for the test, which involved a “grueling” six-hour flying assessment that took him all over the U.K. and required him to perform a variety of tasks including simulating a low-level attack.